Were Iran's ballistic missile capabilities damaged in Israeli strikes?

The Israeli Air Force has hit a dozen targets in Iran used to produce solid fuel for long-range ballistic missiles, as part of its military retaliation against the Israeli Air Force. Islamic RepublicThat would seriously harm Tehran’s ability to replenish its supplies, Israeli media reported on Saturday evening.

The targets hit were advanced equipment that Iran could not produce on its own and had to be purchased from China. Walla reported. The targets were a crucial part of Iran’s ballistic missile program. Walla quoted three anonymous Israeli sources.

Israeli sources also stated that four S-300 air defense batteries located in strategic locations protecting nuclear and energy facilities in Tehran were attacked during the operation. A factory for the production of drones and a facility in the Parchin military complex were also attacked, the latter of which had a history of nuclear weapons research and development activities.

Additional reports of attacks

The Arab independent online newspaper Elaf reported that Israel had attacked a secret ballistic missile factory in Iran, destroying a large number of heavy fuel mixers used to power the Kheibar and Haj Qasem missiles – both of which were fired by Iran into Israel early this month. The report also claimed that the attacked S-300 air defense batteries were Russian-made and destroyed radars powering these and other systems in Syria and Iraq.

The report said that the ballistic missile factory was completely destroyed. A source said this Elaf that it was the “backbone of Iran’s missile industry” and that Israel had “retired” it from service, also reporting that each heavy fuel mixer destroyed was estimated to cost at least $2 million and that approximately twenty mixers of this type were destroyed.

A screenshot shows an Israeli Air Force plane, which the Israeli military says is taking off to carry out attacks on Iran, from a handout video released on October 26, 2024. (credit: ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

While Walla reported that production to repair such equipment would reportedly take at least a year, informed sources about Iran’s missile industry said Elaf that it would take at least two years to put the destroyed factory back into use.

In total, more than 100 Israeli aircraft took part in the attack on Iranian targets, Ynet reported, stating that their mission was to hit the Islamic Republic’s most advanced anti-aircraft systems and develop air superiority there for any upcoming IAF operations – in such cases. a way in which Israeli fighter jets could in the future fly even at relatively low altitude in the airspace of Tehran itself.

The Ynet report went on to say that it will take many more days to assess the damage caused by the attacks, according to estimates.